30 April 2014

We're going to have to file this one under "gross due to sheer ignorance" and part of me is wondering why I am even sharing this, but hey, if nothing else, I am always good for a chuckle or two.

So most of you know that a few weeks (probably months now) ago, I got my first heart-rate monitor so I can track how many calories I am burning. I got one of the nifty Polars with the wristwatch tracker and the elastic strap monitor that goes around your chest, and since I got it I pretty much have been using it every single day. Which is super duper cool, because that means I am working up a sweat for my health almost daily.

But about a week ago I did stop using the monitor because frankly, the elastic strap was getting mighty funkelicious. Thank me for being a profuse sweater.

And it took me until this past weekend to finally Google "how to clean heart monitor strap" and lo and behold, the magical mystery behind it all was "soap and water." You know, squirt some soap on it, run the strap under water and hang it to dry - boom! In fact, most people recommend washing the strap after every workout, or at minimum once a week.

Except if you're me. If you're me, then you can just wallow in your own ignorant swampy stank for weeks on end. The more you know, people. Happy Hump Day.

28 April 2014

Thanks again to all you lovely ladies who entered my giveaway! I truly appreciate those of you who take a bit of time every week to come visit my little corner of blogdom. Style blogging has definitely helped my closet and let me be more adventurous in ways I can express myself. Thanks for such a wonderful community of like-minded stylish women!

Without further ado, the winner of the crystal chevron-link necklace, crystal garland bracelet and crystal coated stone earrings selected at random is ...

Angela P!

Who follows my blog via GFC with her G-mail account and entered on April 19 @ 11:24am

Congrats, girl! To claim your prize, please send me an e-mail to respecttheshoes(at)live.com with your mailing deets and your winnings will be on their way!

25 April 2014

I am an avid animal print lover. I mean, I've got six pairsI know of leopard print shoes. But for some reason, I’ve
got a little voice in my head that tells me that wearing animal prints in the
summer is wrong.

Unlike age-old fashion dictates like wearing white only between Memorial and Labor Days, not mixing navy and black, match your purse to your shoes, etc., there are no rules saying "no leopard after Easter" or some such
nonsense, for me to feels like animal prints are a cold weather pattern
and should be reserved for fall and winter.

So I kind of have to get all of the catty animal print wearing out of my system in the next few weeks - yes, I have a deadline too of when I need to stop wearing the leopard too. I'm that weird.

Anyone else have any self-conceived fashion rules that they dress by? Or an I alone in my weirdness? Actually, don't answer that.

23 April 2014

As far as outfits go, this is a pretty simple ensemble for me. No rainbow-hued blast of color or riot of patterns or loading of statement necklaces this go-around. It's kind of nice to be able to streamline a bit as temps rise and the last thing we feel like doing is piling stuff on. Just wait until it's July and all I'll be doing is throw on a cotton knit dress, the barest of sandals and calling it a day.

21 April 2014

These shoes are my first piece of rose gold-hued anything, and while I think they are a fabulous softer metallic that is very flattering, I don't have a whole lot of ideas on what I can wear with them.

Pairing rose gold with other pale pinks is about all I can think of for now, and the weirdo in me can't settle with the idea of pairing rose gold with regular yellow gold - I know most people likely wouldn't notice at all ... but notice the lack of my usual gold-tone arm bling with this outfit?

You stylish ladies have any ideas on what you think would look good with rose gold? Right now my best idea is getting a purse in a sim metallic hue to help put my OCD matchy-match mind at rest.

18 April 2014

Hey ladies, I seriously am appreciative having all you ladies reading my
blog and checking out my outfit pics and mental ramblings. I love this community
of strong, beautiful, passionate women who share my love for fashion and
look to inspire each other in so many different ways.

So as a little way of saying thanks, I'd like to give away a set of beautiful crystal set of inspired jewelry! One lucky lady will have the opportunity to win the crystal chevron-link necklace, crystal garland bracelet and crystal coated stone earrings.

Entering is easy: Be a follower of respect the shoes via GFC, Bloglovin, Facebook or Instagram. You can enter once by selecting one of the options below or you can enter multiple times (up to four per person). So you don't have to complete all four entries unless you want to enter four times.

Contest runs until Friday, April 25 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Contest is open to everyone. Winner will be selected at random shortly afterwards.

16 April 2014

I've got some major love for pretty much every piece I'm wearing. So they all had to work together somehow, don't they?

Like this top: a substantial knit that is neutral but different enough from a regular ole striped or grey tee.

Or this skirt: it's neon yellow, people. 'Nough said.

The necklace: One of my fave J.Crew purchases. Sparkle just made to wear with grey.

And the shoes: Yeah, I'm pretty much never taking these shoes off. They're
striped, got bows and they're padded to the hilt, so they're actually
comfortable. Isaac Mizrahi, you make it difficult to resist snagging
another pair (like the pink ones, ooh pretty).

14 April 2014

The buttons are real but pretty much everything else on this top has been sketched on. And for some weird reason, that makes me adore this top to no end.

So thanks to my big sis for getting this top for me from one of Joe Fresh's US stores since they are all currently located in NYC or Long Island and Joe Fresh doesn't offer online US shopping yet (boo and boo).

I've checked out some of Joe Fresh's offerings via JCPenney but I think they save the cutest stuff for their own site. Come on, Canada, when are you guys going to share this fab retailer?